A recent shooting at a Shell convenience store on Summit Hill Drive in Knoxville prompted an investigation by the local police. WVLT reported that the Knoxville Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the store's parking lot.
Initial investigations suggest that the incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted from a dispute between two men. According to the KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland, gunfire was exchanged during the altercation. "It is believed that two men engaged in an altercation, eventually leading to shots being fired." Erland said. One of the individuals was hit in the leg and subsequently taken to the UT Medical Center with injuries that were deemed not to be life-threatening. The accused gunman fled the scene before the authorities could apprehend him, as per WVLT.
However, the suspect didn't remain at large for long. By Saturday evening, 23-year-old Dereke Upton was charged with aggravated assault related to the shooting. WATE reports that investigators located Upton at a residence on Laurans Avenue as they followed up on leads.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still under scrutiny. A Facebook post from the Knoxville Police Department provided a brief account of the incident. The department's virtual update reaffirms the non-fatal status of the injuries sustained by the victim. As the investigation persists, no further details have been released regarding the motive or circumstances of the shooting.
